Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham: Predicted Lineups and Team News

Nottingham Forest welcome Tottenham to the City Ground in a fascinating early-season Premier League clash, with both sides under pressure to kick-start their campaigns. Forest sit 15th with 1 point from 2 matches, scoring 2 and conceding 3, while Spurs are bottom in 20th with 0 points, no goals scored and 5 conceded. With that context, predicted lineups take on real importance as both managers search for a settled starting lineup.

Forest’s league form reads “DL”, reflecting a draw and a loss so far, but they can lean on an impressive recent head-to-head record and home advantage. Tottenham arrive with “LL” in their form line, and their early defensive record plus a blunt attack will heavily shape the expected tactical approach and starting lineup. With no official team sheets yet, this preview focuses on analytically built predicted lineups and how those choices could decide the match.

Recent meetings strongly favour Forest: they have won four of the last five league clashes, including back-to-back 3–0 wins last season. Combined with a double-chance prediction shading towards Nottingham Forest or draw and evenly split win probabilities (50% home, 50% draw, 0% away), this fixture looks finely poised — and the expected starting XIs will be crucial.

Nottingham Forest Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Forest come into this match with a couple of confirmed absentees in midfield. I. Sangaré is ruled out with a calf injury, while N. Savona is sidelined by a knee injury. Both are listed as missing this fixture, which narrows the manager’s options in the centre of the pitch but still leaves a deep pool of midfielders and attackers from the current squad list.

Despite sitting 15th with 1 point, Forest’s underlying numbers are more balanced than Tottenham’s: 2 goals scored and 3 conceded in two games, plus a league form string of “DL”. They have been using an attacking-minded shape with three at the back and wing-backs in their two league outings, officially recorded as a 3-4-2-1. That system is expected again, built around the creativity of M. Gibbs-White and the versatility of wide players like C. Hudson-Odoi and O. Aina. With key absences concentrated in central midfield, the manager is likely to lean on fit, established names for stability in the predicted lineup.

Nottingham Forest Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI (3-4-2-1):
GK: M. Sels
DF: O. Diomande, N. Milenković, Morato
MF: O. Aina, N. Domínguez, X. Schlager, L. Netz, M. Gibbs-White, C. Hudson-Odoi
FW: C. Wood

This predicted starting lineup is built from the fit squad, excluding the injured I. Sangaré and N. Savona. In goal, the experienced M. Sels is the logical choice as a senior goalkeeper. At the back, a three-man defensive block of O. Diomande, N. Milenković and Morato offers height, physicality and aerial strength, suiting a compact but aggressive defensive approach that Forest have favoured early in the season.

In midfield and wide areas, O. Aina is a key figure. Although listed as a defender in the squad, his disciplinary and performance data in the league (two yellow cards, strong duels and dribbling numbers) underline his role as a high-energy wide presence, ideal for a wing-back or advanced full-back slot. On the opposite side, L. Netz provides balance and width. Centrally, N. Domínguez and X. Schlager give Forest a robust, ball-winning and ball-progressing pairing, compensating for the absence of Sangaré.

Further forward, M. Gibbs-White stands out as Forest’s most productive attacking player so far in 2026, with 1 goal and 1 assist from 2 appearances and a strong performance rating. His creativity between the lines and ability to carry the ball make him the focal point of Forest’s attacking structure in the predicted lineup. C. Hudson-Odoi is expected to support him as another technically gifted, direct player, while C. Wood leads the line as a classic centre-forward, offering a target for crosses and an outlet for long balls when Forest look to bypass Tottenham’s press.

Tottenham Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Tottenham’s squad situation is more complicated. They have several attacking and creative players ruled out for this fixture: D. Kulusevski, W. Odobert and X. Simons are all listed as missing with knee injuries. On top of that, J. Maddison is marked as questionable with a knock, meaning his inclusion in the starting lineup is uncertain and must be treated cautiously when considering lineups today.

Those absences go a long way to explaining Spurs’ early-season struggles: they are 20th with 0 points, no goals scored and 5 conceded, and a form line of “LL”. The team has been using a 4-2-3-1 structure in both league games so far, and that formation is expected again, but with significant tweaks in the attacking midfield and wide positions due to injuries. With no top scorers or assist leaders registered yet this season, the manager is likely to lean heavily on senior midfielders such as R. Bentancur and C. Gallagher, plus centre-forward options like D. Solanke or Richarlison, to stabilise the side.

Tottenham Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
GK: M. Dúbravka
DF: Pedro Porro, J. van Hecke, M. van de Ven, D. Udogie
MF: R. Bentancur, P. Sarr, C. Gallagher, M. Kudus, Omar Marmoush
FW: D. Solanke

With several attacking midfielders unavailable, this predicted starting lineup for Tottenham focuses on experience and defensive solidity. In goal, M. Dúbravka is the most senior option. The back four of Pedro Porro, J. van Hecke, M. van de Ven and D. Udogie offers a blend of pace and physicality; Porro and Udogie can still provide attacking width, but are likely to be more cautious given Spurs’ defensive record so far.

In midfield, a double pivot of R. Bentancur and P. Sarr brings energy, pressing and passing range, essential to protect the back line and help Spurs control transitions. Ahead of them, C. Gallagher is a natural candidate for a central advanced role in the three behind the striker, given his work rate and ability to arrive late in the box. With D. Kulusevski, W. Odobert and X. Simons all ruled out and J. Maddison questionable, creative responsibility is likely to be shared between M. Kudus and Omar Marmoush in the wide and half-space roles. Up front, D. Solanke is a strong option to lead the line, providing hold-up play and penalty-box presence in the absence of any in-form scorers.

This predicted lineup maintains Tottenham’s usual attacking-minded shape on paper, but the personnel suggests a slightly more conservative game plan, with a focus on compactness and counter-attacks rather than sustained high pressing or expansive possession.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences are a significant factor in this match and directly shape the predicted lineups and tactical balance. Forest’s injuries are concentrated in central midfield, while Tottenham’s issues are mainly in attacking and creative areas, which could tilt the attacking initiative towards the home side.

Nottingham Forest Absences:

I. Sangaré — Calf Injury (Missing Fixture)
N. Savona — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)

Tottenham Absences:

D. Kulusevski — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
W. Odobert — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
X. Simons — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
J. Maddison — Knock (Questionable)

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

Forest’s expected three-at-the-back structure with aggressive wing-backs contrasts with Tottenham’s predicted back four and double pivot. The home side’s wing-backs, particularly O. Aina and L. Netz, will look to push high and pin back Pedro Porro and D. Udogie, creating overloads in wide areas. If Forest can consistently isolate C. Hudson-Odoi and M. Gibbs-White against Tottenham’s full-backs, they will generate the kind of one-on-one situations that have underpinned their recent success in this fixture.

Central areas will be a key battleground. Without I. Sangaré, Forest rely on N. Domínguez and X. Schlager to match the physicality and intensity of R. Bentancur and P. Sarr. Spurs, who have failed to score in their first two games and conceded 5, are likely to protect the middle with that double pivot and look for quick transitions through M. Kudus and Omar Marmoush. However, the lack of fit, top-end creators — with D. Kulusevski, W. Odobert and X. Simons out and J. Maddison doubtful — may leave D. Solanke isolated if Tottenham cannot progress the ball cleanly through midfield.

Forest’s form indices and comparison metrics favour them: they lead strongly in overall comparison and attacking indices, while Tottenham lag after two poor results. Forest’s recent head-to-head record (multiple wins in the last seasons, including 3–0 away and 3–0 at home in 2025) also suggests they know how to exploit Spurs’ weaknesses. Expect the home side to press selectively, use C. Wood as an outlet, and rely on M. Gibbs-White’s movement between the lines to drag Tottenham’s centre-backs out of position.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Win probabilities from the prediction model give Nottingham Forest a 50% chance of victory, a 50% chance of a draw, and 0% for a Tottenham win, with the advice explicitly favouring a double chance on Forest or draw. That aligns with the league standings and recent form: Forest have at least found the net and been competitive, while Spurs are yet to score and have looked vulnerable defensively.

The goals projection is conservative, with the home side’s goals indicator sitting under 1.5 and no clear signal for Tottenham. Combined with Tottenham’s attacking absences and Forest’s solid defensive comparison index, this points towards a low-scoring contest where the hosts are slightly more likely to edge it or at least avoid defeat.

Predicted Outcome: Nottingham Forest 1–0 Tottenham

How to Watch Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

Spain: Local Premier League rights holder / sports streaming platform
UK: Domestic Premier League broadcaster or official streaming service
USA / North America: Major sports network or dedicated Premier League streaming partner
South America: Regional sports channel with Premier League rights
MENA: Regional pay-TV sports network or official digital platform